The other day I was cycling along Seaview duver towards Ryde around the middle of the day. The duver road runs behind the beach from the Seaview end to the Boathouse pub - maybe 3/4 mile max. It is a narrow road but passable for two cars most of the way - but there is a chicane about half distance and carparking (this time of the year especially) which makes the road narrower and hard to pass. There is also a 20 mile speed limit on the Seaview end half.
Anyway I get to the chicane just before the bottom of Oakhill Road and I witness a shouting match between a driver of a large white van and a guy on a mountain bike. The gist of it was the cyclist should ride single file not 2 abreast as it was stopping the van driver getting by. The male cyclist was cycling with a female cyclist - she was on the inside. I guess they were about 30 ish, had helmets and the Muddy Fox type clothes that mountain bikers use off road. They were not occasional cyclists in my view.
In the few seconds this ensued it was obvious there was a lot of bad feeling. The cyclists set off with the van behind going in the Seaview direction, The male cyclist deliberately cycled slowly in the middle of the road stopping the van passing. The van driver is revving his engine inches from the back wheel of the cyclist. I stand and watch to see what happens (it is predictable and inevitable I think to myself!) They get a 100 yards or so down the road and there is a big commotion and shouting. The male cyclist is shouting "he hit me". The bike is on the floor - the cyclist stood on the grass. More shouting and the van driver drives off perhaps after a minute.
My take as a cyclist and also as a car driver.
- The male cyclist was being ignorant and provocative and not cycling in accordance with the Highway Code.
- Obviously cyclists should not unduly hold up traffic whenever they can avoid it and certainly riding 2 abreast will almost always cause a problem on normal roads.
- The van driver was clearly working and wanted to get on with his day and the male cyclists in the end was wilfully trying to stop him.
- Maybe at some earlier point the van driver had shown impatience - maybe sounded his horn - I don't know - but the upshot was the cyclist was acting unreasonably.
- Clearly the van driver should not have hit the bike. I assume it was a nudge from behind and it was likely deliberate. In this respect the driver was at fault and has likely committed an offence and I am not condoning it as such.
- Many might feel the cyclists got what he deserved.
- Many might feel the cyclists behaviour is the sort of thing that gets cyclists a bad name.
- Some might feel it is what gets white van man a bad name.
- As far as the 2 individuals involved are concerned it is highly likely their views are now indelibly polarised !
- Fortunately no one was seriously hurt and something so petty and silly didn't really get out of hand (which it easily could have done).
- I hope the young cyclist is now chastened and has learned a life lesson.
- Similarly I hope the van driver reflects that he took a silly and irresponsible risk by nudging the bike rider off.
Late last year my brother Mike and I cycled from John o' Groats to Lands End. Over 1100 miles. It was obvious the best way was to work with motorists. We never rode 2 abreast - we always allowed vehicles to pass asap. Consequently we received plenty of friendly peeps - we weren't stressed - and neither were the drivers. It was a win win and much safer and enjoyable. It is just common-sense and good manners. The inconsiderate cyclist needs a rethink! If he continues to think he has the right to take up as much of the road as a car or van he is going to have a miserable and possibly short cycling life.
